Liquefied gas cooler for refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 13, 1931..

J. R. MARTIN LIQUEFIED GAS COOLER FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct; 29, 1928 llllllll WITNESS ATTORNEY- 'INVEZNTOR JMQ/ZZIZ;

: stances, and the gas or the evaporation of the Patented Oct. 13, 1 931;.

' UNITED STATES P N'I OFFICE;

JAmEs mvnns MARTIN, or wm'rrm nAviin, FLORID ASSIGNOB. 'ro' HENRY c.

rnmnson, or WINTER r'r vnn, .FLoRIDA I mounrmn eAs coomm s on; nnrmennmrme, APPARATUS Application filed October 29, 19 28. Serial N0." 315,751.

' This invention relates to that type of resorb the heat of surrounding bodies, or subso that the same refrigerant is used over and over again in a continuous cycle.

The great amount of gas created, aside from doing little net refrigeration work .in

the coils, occupies very valuable space; entrains considerable mist or spray to the suction line; causes sluggish circulation, and retards evaporation due to its insulating effeet on the inner surface of the cooling coils.

A primary object ofthis invention is to provide means whereby the condensed ammonia before reaching the expansion valve is reduced intemperature and thus reducing the percentageof loss of total available. re-

frigerant at time of or at moment of expansioneliminate excessive gases created by such, high temperature of condensed ammonia resulting in greater. weight of am monia expanding in coils, quicker and more complete refrigeration work-drier atmosphere in storage room-better refrigeration service generally.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooler for the liquefied gas employed in such system whereby the operating cost 'willbe reduced and the capacity of the icemaking machine increased.

Still another 'ob ect of the invention is to provide a liquefied gas cooler connected to the suction line from an ice tank or cold storage room and through which the return liquid from the tank or room passes and which includes a coiled pipe connected with the condenser line at one end and an expansion line at the other whereby liquefied gas flowing through such coiled pipe is cooled by the returned ice tank gas and liquor to within a few degrees of the tank or cold storage temperature.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a wide range ofmodification without de arting from the spirit or sacrificing any 0 the advantages of the claimed invention;

vapor resulting from liquid is re-liquefied,

there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a pre- I ferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view with parts in section of a part of a refrigerating system equipped with a liquefied gas cooler embodying this invention; and I ig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the gas cooler shown in Fig. 1;

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the gas cooler 30 embodying the invention is illustrated in connection with an ice tank or cold storage chamber 1 having mounted therein cooling: coils or pipes, one of which is shown at 2 and from one end of which a pipe 3 leads to and discharges into the shell 31 of the liquefied gas cooler 30. This cooler is always mounted horizontally and has mountedtherein a coiled tube or pipe 8 for a purpose presently to be described. The shell 31 of the cool-- er 3Q isshown made cylindrical in form with .a casting 32 forming one end thereof and a casting 33 forming the opposite end. These 'ends' are connected and secure the shell body in place bymeans of tension rods 34. The head 33 has an opening 35 in the center thereof thru which passes pipe 3 of the suction line of the system. This pipe enters the 'shell and is surrounded by a suitable bushing to provide a fluid tight closure around such pipe. A second bushed opening in this head 33 is also provided, its purpose being presently de-' I scribed. Head 32 is provided with three bushed openings thru one of which passes a pipe 7 which connects the coil 8 with a condensor 6 and a branch 7 a which in turn connects with the suction pipe 4 there being introduced in a pipe 7a a shut 01f valve 7 b which is normally closed and preferably placed near the lower side of head plate 32.

Head 32 is provided with a bushed central opening'for the passage of pipe 4a leading from'the shell 31 and which constitutes a continuation of the suction pipe 4 leading back to compresser 15.

The pipe 4 is connected with the suction side of the compressor 15. The discharge side of the compressor 15 is connected by a pipe' 5 with a condenser 6 from which the pipe 7 leads to ,and is connected with the coil 8 within and extending entirely thru the cooler 3O andterminating in the second bushed opening in head 33. Said coil 8 being connected and extended into the cooling room 1 by means of pipe 9 having thereon an ex pansion valve 9'.

As shown pipe 3 communicates with a pipe 41 which is screwed into the head plate 33 of the c linder and extends to a point near the othe end thereof where it is equipped.

by short spacing sleeves 43 slidably mounted on the pipe 41. These discs and sleeves are held assembled on thepipe by means of a pin 44 extending transversely through the pipe near its connection with head 33 and I 'between which and the cap 42 the plates and sleeves are clamped so that by turning on the cap 42 all the parts will be held securely together. A gas inlet 45, about one-half inch in diametermore or less is drilled entirely through the pipe 41 and provides the only inlet to the cylinder' for the gas from the suction line pipe 3. v r

This assembly of the baflle plate is de signed to distribute the gas entering through the pipe 3 around the coils 8 giving them the full benefit of the low temperature of tlie suction line gas. Obviously this arrangement provides a maximum volume of gas in 13:16 cylinder and a maximum distribution of 1 In the operation of the apparatus gaseous ammonia after being compressed by compressor 15 to say 150 to 200 pounds passes down pipe 5'into and thru condenser coils 6 where its temperature is reduced to that of the condensing water say 85 to 90 and is liquefied. Continuing thru pipe 7 and coil 8, pipe 9 and expansion valve 9 and expansion coils 2 within the ice tank or storage chamber where the condensed liquid is vaporized resulting in effective refrigeration work.

The gases there created and having a temperature of from 32 to 36 pass from coils 2 i thru outlet provided on end thereof, thru pipe 3 and into the cylinder 31 thru opening 45 in pipe 41 and is there distributed by bafie plates 40.

The gases entering cylinder .31 at 32 to 36 degrees temperature being well distributed around coils 8 (thru which flows condensed ammonia at 85 to 90 degrees F.) produces a cooling effect on these coils and passing on out of the cylinder thru pipe 4 to the compressor 15. It will be observed that pipe 3-oylinder 31-and pipe. 4 constitutes the suction line and that pipe 5-coil 6pipe 7- coil 8--pipe 9, etc., the discharge or liquor line.

The gases entering cylinder 31 thru pipe 3 entrains the before mentioned liquid ammonia from coils 2, precipating the same thru openings 45, in baflle plate assembly shaft 41,

to the lower half of cylinder 31. The latter serving as a trap to separate liquid from as and thus prevents an excess of liquor getting over to the compressor which is not desirable. The liquid in trap (cylinder 31) surrounding and submerging lower half of coils 8 produces a cooling effect thereon and continually vaporizes and passes out of the cylinder 31 plenished at gas temperature about as fast as liquid evaporates.

The gases passing out of cylinder 31 into pipe 4 and back to compressor are not unduly super-heated but enough to prevent any liquid getting into the compressor. No cooling before entering compressor is required. Owing to length of'coil 8 which is about 30 feet, and the close adjustment of expansion valve 9 which does not permit any great volume of ammonia to pass in a given time, and the reduced pressure of ammonia in coils 8 caused by its being cooled in passage thru coils 8. all tend to render passage thru coils 8 sluggish which is desirable since the longer the ammonia is in cooling touch with cooling gas and liquid in cylinder, the more heat will be extracted for a given quantity for a given time. On the other hand the gas in cylinder 31 under 15 pounds pressure having a distance of less than 24 inches to traverse from entrance to exit, and considering a given quantity. absorbs very little heat owing to its quick transit thru cylinder, and very much less timed contact with coils 8. It is the constant flow of large quantities of cold gas that accomplishes the effective cooling and the temperature absorbed is distributed thruout 1y controlled. the following occurs-when cooling room reaches a predetermined temperature the compressor is automatically stopped but the discharge and suction, mostly the discharge, continues to flow under accumulated pressure of condensed ammonia and continues during the interval of stoppage. The two circuits tend to become equalized, the liquid losing pressure-the suction gaining by reason of accumulation of gas having no outlet thru compressor. In time the-gas in upper half of cvlinder 31 is more or less stationary and slightly compressed and its heat absorbing qualities 'ex- .hausted. The liquid being denser, continues its cooling efiect on coils. vaporizes and automatically empties the cylinder of itself. On restarting the compressor. the circuits start in motion and for av considerable period the entire cylinder. (upper and lower half) is completely filled with fresh cold supplies of gas from the expansion coils and the entrained liquor gradually filling the lower 20 half or trap.

If for an good reason the machine is pumped to a acuum such as is necessary for adjustments or. repairs to machinery or to cooler 30 without waiting for liquid in cyl-, inder to evaporate-valve 7 b is opened and thus provision is made to force liquid outof cylinder thru suction line and thru compressor. I

Without further descriptionit is thought a that the features and advantages of the in- 1 q'vention will be readily apparent to those' skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor detail'sof construction may be resorted to, vwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed. 7

I claim: 1. A liquefied gascooler for freezing apparatus comprising a. cylindrical member closed fluidtight at both ends, a liquefied gas coil located within said cylinder and having its ends extending through the ends of the cylinder, means for supplying liquid gas to 4 said coil, means for supplying expanded gas from a. cooling coil to said cylinder, said means comprising a pipe extending longitu-I dinally through said coil, and a plurality of baflle plates carried by said pipe within said coil for distributing the expanded gas in regard to the coil.

2. A liquefied gas cooler-for freezing apparatus comprising a cylin 'rical member closed fluid tight at both ends, a liquefied gas coil located wlthin said cylinder and-having its ends extending throu h the ends of the h cylinder, means for supplying liquid gas to said coil, means for supplying expanded gas from a cooling coil to said cylinder, said means comprising an expanded gas supply pipe extendmg into said cylinder inside said coil, a plurality of bafile plates mounted-on said pipe, spacing sleeves arranged between said plates, and means for clamping and connecting the lates and sleeves to the pipgi J AMIES RIVERS MART 

